Can you imagine a day when everything you encounter begins to talk to you? Palampam Day is the story of "the day all things find their voice and say whatever they feel like saying, in any language under the Caribbean sun." Turo, the young boy in the story, has a terrible day unable to eat or drink without having the food talk to him, and he just cannot bring himself to eat something that is talking Then, he finds out that even his dog and cat are talking. Finally, a fisherman sends him to Papa Tata Wanga, the man in the village who "is very knowledgeable," to find out what is going on. It is Papa Tata Wanga who tells him that all the "roogoodoo" will end the next day when the full moon is no longer blue. To assist Turo, Papa Tata Wanga gives him the magic words and actions to help the night come quickly. "Go right home. Turn left. Turn right. Turn all around and say 'good night' . . .and sing: The moon is blue. / Paladee, Paladoo. / Fungee, fish, and kallaloo." Things return to normal in the morning and Turo "later ate his fill of coconut, sweet potato, banana, fish, and mango," and with this food, his stomach stops talking.
The illustrations by Santo Domingo native Enrique Sanchez are vibrant and colorful. They put life into the talking food and animals through the wide eyes and open mouths of coconuts, mangos, fish, and bananas. These characters speak the different languages that are found in the Caribbean, such as Papiamento, Creole, Spanish, French, Dutch, and English. An author's note on the last page gives meanings to the various words and expressions that add "flavor" to the story.
Palampam Day is an enjoyable story that children can relate to. They can identify with Turo's dilemma and laugh at the colorful characters as the noisy day progresses.
St. Croix, USVI |
Copyright © by Sarah F. Mahurt